Varner Records Hat Trick as Leopards Double Up Alumni – Boys Soccer

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Louisville 4, Alumni 2

My Fit Life Personal Trainer AdThe Louisville Leopards Boys Soccer Team doubled up the Alumni 4-2 in the annual Boys Soccer Alumni Game at Louisville Leopards Stadium Friday Night. With the victory, Louisville improves to 2-1 on the preseason and now leads the all-time series over the Alumni 5-1-1.

Blake Varner recorded a hat trick and Austin Smith also added a goal to lead the Leopards. Riley Adams and Maddox Drake-McKimm also added assists for LHS.

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Beatty's Sports Football 2018 Schedule Shirt T-ShirtThe 2019 Leopards dominated the scoreboard for the first 62 minutes of action despite facing an Alumni team that illegally fielded 12-13 players at a time. LHS struck first when McKimm popped a pass from midfield ahead to Varner. He dribbled ahead for a pair of touches before booting the ball into the right side of the net to break the ice in the 8th minute of the contest. 

The fancy footwork of Adams created the second Louisville goal just before the break. Adams navigated through generations of alumni toward the net before pushing a short pass over to Varner. His first shot was deflected by Goalie Jarrett Zwick, but Varner retrieved his own rebound and laced the ball to the right of Zwick and into the net to give LHS a 2-0 halftime advantage.

The Leopards doubled their advantage in the second half with another pair of goals. A hard shot on goal deflected back to Austin Smith who then scored from 15 yards out to make it 3-0 during the 46th minute. Varner’s hat trick goal came in the 62nd minute after rebounding a deflected right to left shot on goal off the foot of McKimm. Varner used his left foot to direct the ball into the wide open left side of the net to make it 4-0.

Joe Reynolds would have earned the shutout in goal for LHS, but in the spirt of the Alumni game the Alumni bench literally cleared and it was at least 17 on 11 for the final five minutes. With the 6 man advantage the Alumni were able to get on the board…kind of. In the 71st minute a shot rang off the right upright of the football goal post that is typically considered out of play. The Alumni played the ball live anyways and Mitch Perez shot the ball into the wide open left side of the net. The 2017 LHS Graduate emphatically celebrated by taking off his shirt and exiting stage right out of the Stadium in a mad sprint. 

Career goals leader Bailey Adams scored the Alumni’s other goal in the 73rd minute. He weaved his way past a pair of LHS defenders before deflecting a shot off the goalie and into the left side of the net to make it 4-2.

As usual there were many memories shared from days past on the Alumni bench and tons of laughs from players, coaches, and fans throughout. LHS has now won the past 4 Alumni games since the two teams played to a 7-7 draw in 2015. The Alumni’s only victory cam back in the inaugural 2013 game.

Louisville Leopards Boys Soccer Alumni Game History

UP NEXT: The Leopards will conclude the preseason by hosting the Lake Center Christian Tigers for a scrimmage on Tuesday, August 13 at 7:30 PM.

Cover Photo Taken By and Courtesy of John Henkel

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BOX SCORE

LEOPARDS 4, ALUMNI 2

Team 1-2–TOTAL

Alumni 0-2–02

Louisville 2-2–04

1st Half

Louisville – Blake Varner (Maddox Drake-McKimm) | LHS 1, ALUMNI 0, 8′

Louisville – Blake Varner (Riley Adams) | LHS 2, ALUMNI 0, 39′

2nd Half

Louisville – Austin Smith | LHS 3, ALUMNI 0, 46′

Louisville – Blake Varner | LHS 4, ALUMNI 0, 62′

Alumni – Mitch Perez | LHS 4, ALUMNI 1, 71′

Alumni – Bailey Adams | LHS 4, ALUMNI 2, 73′

Records: Louisville 2-1 Preseason

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